CVS Caremark Downtown 5K set to host USA 5 km Championships
Posted Tuesday, 14 September, 2010
Woonsocket, R.I. (September 13, 2010) – This year marks the 21st anniversary of the CVS Caremark Downtown 5K, the largest road race in the state and a health-focused event for the whole family. Scheduled for Sunday, September 19, the Downtown 5K has "something for everyone" -- for every age, pace and ability. It attracts local and international runners, including Olympians, recreational runners, youth runners, walkers and individuals with disabilities. The CVS Caremark Downtown 5K is more than a race. It's a fun event with live music along the race course, a family atmosphere combined with world-class appeal, and lots of friendly cheering.
The CVS Caremark Downtown 5K will kick-off in the morning with 21 different races for children, pre-kindergarten through eighth grade, including an All Kids Can Inspirational event for children with physical and intellectual disabilities. The youth races will be followed by the main 5K race, which will feature several elite and world-class runners, including Molly Huddle, who just broke the national record for the 5K, and Joan Benoit Samuelson -- a 1984 Gold Medalist Olympian who set a national record for her age category in the 2008 Downtown 5K. The 5K race will also include amateur runners competing as individuals or on college, corporate, and gym teams, and walkers. The event will conclude with a High School Inspirational 3K, sponsored by Tufts Health Plan, which will feature a School Spirit costume contest for student athletes. Throughout the day, bands that have donated their time and talent will perform along the race course.
This year, the CVS Caremark Downtown 5K will recognize the "Downtown 5K Dashers" -- individuals who have participated in every Downtown 5K since its inception.
With participants and spectators heading into the City for the CVS Caremark Downtown 5K, the CVS Caremark Youth Races and the Tufts Health Plan High School Inspirational 3K, it’s important to plan accordingly for parking, late registration and packet pickup, and race start times.
IF YOU HAVE ALREADY REGISTERED OR STILL WISH TO REGISTER:
Go to the large tent at Station Park, which is located at the corner of Francis Street and Gaspee Street, in Providence, R.I. adjacent to the Providence Place Mall and the Rhode Island State House.
Registration and/or Packet Pickup Days and Times:
• Saturday, September 18, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Race organizers strongly recommend that you avoid the Sunday race crowds and take care of registration and packet pickup on Saturday.)
• Sunday, September 19, 7:15 to 10:45 a.m.
PARKING:
For registration and/or packet pickup on Saturday, there is free parking in the Rhode Island State House Parking Lots. The same is true for Sunday, but parking space will fill up quickly. Other parking options include the Providence Place Mall garage or the Rhode Island Convention Center garage for a fee.
RACE DAY INSTRUCTIONS
Race organizers strongly recommend that 5K race participants arrive at least one hour before the race starts. The 5K race starts promptly at 11:15 a.m.
RACE TIMES:
• Youth races begin at 8 a.m. and conclude with a 10:30 a.m. race.
• The CVS Caremark Downtown 5K starts at 11:15 a.m.
• Tufts Health Plan High School Inspirational 3K run starts at 12:15 p.m.
(Featuring a School Spirit Costume Contest)
LOCATION: All races of the CVS Caremark Downtown 5K start and finish on Francis Street in front of the Rhode Island State House.
TIMING SYSTEM: The 2010 CVS Caremark Downtown 5K will use the new B-Tag timing device. This involves a chip in the back of each race number. Time will begin being recorded once a participant crosses the start mat and will end once a participant crosses the finish line. Participants should not remove the chips from the back of their numbers and should not fold their numbers.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Visit www.cvsdowntown5k.com
